The Ministry of Education has suspended the admission of fresh KCSE candidates into Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) for the September 2026 intake in a major policy shift aimed at addressing the growing oversupply of primary school teachers in Kenya.
Under the new directive, only practicing teachers holding a P1 certificate and seeking to upgrade through the Upgrading Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (UDPTE) programme will be admitted to pursue the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE).
The move effectively locks out thousands of 2025 KCSE candidates who had hoped to join TTCs this year.
The decision comes as the government grapples with a rising number of trained but unemployed primary school teachers, a challenge that education stakeholders say has been worsened by the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and restructuring of learning levels.
Why the Government Suspended TTC Intake
For years, Teacher Training Colleges have continued admitting large numbers of students even as employment opportunities in the primary school sector steadily shrank.
Education experts say the shift from the 8-4-4 system to CBC significantly altered staffing needs in schools. The introduction of junior secondary schools under secondary institutions changed deployment structures, while rationalisation of teaching roles reduced demand for primary school teachers.
At the same time, TTCs continued producing thousands of graduates annually.
In 2025 alone, KUCCPS announced more than 13,800 TTC slots for Diploma in Primary and Secondary Teacher Education programmes across public colleges.
Government officials now believe continued intake of fresh trainees would only deepen unemployment among teachers and increase pressure on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which has struggled to absorb graduates into permanent and pensionable positions.
Focus Shifts to Upgrading Existing Teachers
The Ministry has instead prioritised upgrading teachers already in service through the UDPTE programme.
The programme targets teachers with older P1 certificates, allowing them to transition to diploma qualifications aligned with CBC requirements and modern teaching standards.
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The policy also aligns with ongoing reforms in teacher education and competency-based learning, which require educators to adapt to new teaching methods, learner assessment models and digital learning approaches.
Blow to KCSE Candidates
The freeze is expected to disappoint many students, especially those who viewed teaching as one of the most accessible and affordable career paths after KCSE.
The Ministry of Education has not yet announced when fresh TTC admissions for KCSE graduates will resume.
By Our Reporter
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